Penholder attachment.



No. 629,436. Patented July 25, I899.

c. A. FAUST.

PENHULDEB ATTACHMENT.

(Application filed Sept. 30, 1897.)

(-No Model.)

6 1??? 646476 9, yerzfaif as uunms Ptrzns c0. PKOTO-LITHOU (ASNINGTOM n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHARLESA. FAUST, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PENHOLDER ATTACHMENT.

srEcIrIoA'rroN forming pa'rt'of Letters Patent No. 629,436, dated Jul 25, 1899. Application filed September 30,1897. Serial 110.653.616. on as.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. FAUsT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Writing Supports or Guides, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in writing supports or guides, the object of my said invention being the provision of a simple, light, convenient, and efficient devicefor properly positioning the hand and fingers in writing, while avoiding defects inherent in other devices previously employed to secure the result indicated.

I have designated my device by the word myograph and will use the term in the following portions of this specification and the claims.

Prior to myinvention a number of devices or appliances for securing the proper position of the hand in writing were suggested-for use; but in none of these devices are combined the advantages found in the one herein shown and described. It is extremely desirable and almost necessary that the following requirements be met in a device of this class. It should vbe small and lightin order that the hand and fingers may be free and theiraction normal and unimpeded in writing. The hand and fingers should be normally positioned by the device without any tendency to cramp after writing some time. As is implied by the name which I have given it, the myograph not only necessitates maintaining the hand in proper position, but compels the writer to use the muscular movement. Finally, it should not be necessary to adjust the device to the hand or fingers when taking up the pen for writing. These features, which may be deemed practically essentials in this class of apparatus, are not to be met with in previous appliances while properly characterizing the device of my invention.

I may briefly describe the myograph as a support or guide for writing instruments which is adjusted upon the upper portion of the penholder and adapted when used in writing to engage the palmate portion of the hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger. With this I associate, preferably, a shield or stop disposed upon the lower portion of the penholder and adapted to secure the correct position for the tips of the fingers and thumb.

The following description of the device of my invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 illustrates the myograph and penholder held in the hand in the correct position for writing. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are'additional views of the myograph in various positions, showing its conformation to thehand and the disposition of the penholder within the device. I

Like parts are indicated by the same letter of reference in each of the figures of the drawings.

The writing support or guide of my inven tion, or, as I preferably term it, the myo- I graph, consists of the light adjustable device A, shaped from a single piece of metal, such as brass or aluminium, or from celluloid or other suitable material, which device is provided with a tubular portion A, adapted to receive the shaft or handle B of the penholder. Viewed from the exterior the outer and inner wings A A are somewhat concave, being united by a narrowed concave central portion A. The myograph as thus shaped is adapted to fit snugly the palmate portion of the hand between the ball of the thumb and the base of the first finger, the inner wing A engaging the palm of the hand and the outer wing A resting upon the back of the hand, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Upon the lower portion of the penholder, a short distance above the pen-socket, is provided an annular shield C, which is fixed in position upon the penholder. The pen D is inserted within the socket of the penholder, said socket being properly proportioned to dispose the shield C at the correct height for writing.

In using the myograph the portion Ais cramped to fit snugly upon the shaft or handle of the penholder, being longitudinally adjusted thereon to secure for the hand the correct writing position, which is indicated in the first figure of the drawings. The shield (3 will insure the correct position for the tips of the fingers and thumb. The myograph being adjusted upon the shaft to suit the finger length of the writer, the device will at all times compel the hand to take the proper position and enforce the use of the muscular movement in writing. Other means may be employed for securing the myograph in position upon the shaft, since it is unnecessary to move the same after it has been properly adjusted for the writers hand.

Should the hand be held in any other than a proper position, either one or the other of the nibs of pen D will be raised from the paper and further writing will be difiicult or impossible. With the myograph properly adjusted and secured upon the shaft of the penholder it will be seen that any finger movement becomes impossible in the act of writing.

It may be pointed out that with the myograph, as with no other device of its class, no adjustment other than that initially made in adapting a penholder to the hand of the individual is required when the pen is taken up for writing, and the hand will be trained to assume the correct position upon picking up the pen without attention upon the writers part. Even after continued writing the myograph, insuring, as it does, the correct position of the hand and the proper writing movement', does not tire the writer in its use, and writers cramp may be avoided or cured by this simple appliance. Furthermore, my improved device, being small and oflight Weight, does not impede the hand or fingers in any way during the act of writing so long as the correct position and movement are maintained.

The myograph is radically different from similar appliances previously devised, inasmuch as it is adapted to be placed upon any penholder and accustoms the hand of the writer to the proper position in the use of an ordinary penholder instead of securing the same through the medium of a peculiarlyshaped frame or device adapted to fit the fingers or palm of the hand.

As I have stated above, I preferably employ the shield 0, associated with the myograph, although this is not necessary.

In using the word penholder throughout this specification and the claims I desire to be understood as contemplating any writing instrument to which the myograph is adapted to be applied-such as penholders, crayons, fountainpens, and the like--and it will be apparent that with a simple device of this class the correct writing position may be obtained. by the use of the myograph in connection therewith.

Having now described the deviceof my invention, whatlclaim as new, and desire to secure by these Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, the writing support or guide herein shown and described, consisting of a shaped sheet of metal or other suitable material having the cave portions A A A adapted to fit the palmate portion of the writers hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger,

with which portions is associated the penholder-receptacle A adapted to be adj ustably secured upon the shaft of the penholder,

. whereby a uniformly-correct writing position is obtained, substantially as described.

3. As a new article of manufacture, a device of the class described, consisting'of ashaped metallic guide or support having a socket or receptacle adapted to be adjustably mounted upon the shaft of a penholder, and guiding portions or stops adapted to fit the palmate portion of the hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. In a writing support or guide, the com bination With a socket or receptacle A adapted to be adj ustably secured upon the shaft or handle of the penholder, of guiding portions or stops A A A associated therewith and adapted to engage the palmateportion of the hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, whereby the correct writing position is secured, substantially as described.

5. The combination with apenholder, of the writing support or guide A adj ustably secured upon the shaft of the penholder, said support being adapted to fit upon the palmate portion of the writers hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, and a shield O mounted upon the lower portion of the penholder adapted to position the tips of the fingers and thumb, substantially as described.

6. The combination in a writing instrument, with the shaft 13, of the device A adj ustably secured thereon, the same being adapted to fit upon the palmate portion of the writers hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, and a shield O fixedly mounted upon the lower portion of the shaft adapted to secure the correct position of the tips of the fingers and thumb, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination with a penholder of a writing support or guide A adj ustably secured upon the shaft B of the said penholder, said support consisting of a receptacle A adapted to receive the shaft of the penholder and wings or stops A A adapted to fit solely upon the palmate portion of the writers hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, whereby the pen and hand are caused to assume the correct position in writing, substantially as described.

8. In a writing instrument, the combination with the shaft B, of a support or guide adjustably secured thereon, the said support eonsisting of the tubular receptacle A and Wings 01' stops A A associated therewith and adapted to fit solely upon the palmate portion of the hand between the ball of the thumb and base of the first finger, and a shield O mounted uponthe lower portion of the shaft adapted to secure the oorreot position of the tips of the fingers and thumb, substantially as de scribed.

CHAS. A.-FA-UST. I Witnesses:

. W. I. TINUS,

LORENZO E. Dow. 

